ROMANO X BELGIUM ENDING
Romano looked at himself in the mirror. He was dressed in a green polo, black jeans, and his black Italian loafers (he was saving them for a special day, and well tonight seemed like the perfect day to wear them). Romano walked over to his tan dresser and picked up the clear cologne bottle with the light blue liquid inside of it. He pulled off the cap and sprayed it over himself. He coughed at the musky sent. North Italy, his younger brother, had loaned him Germany's cologne three years ago (Romano being Romano never bothered to return it). North Italy had claimed that he loves the smell of Germany when he wears it. Those stupid Potato Bastards have the worst taste in cologne! First, they fuck up our country by sending German tourist over; then, they fuck up cologne now too! Those stupid Germans are screwing up the world one step at a time! Thought Romano angrily. He always hated Germans after his younger brother started hanging out with Germany. Romano turned around and saw Spain standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here Tomato Bastard?! Are you practicing being a stalker like France!?" Romano took a pillow off his bed and threw it at him. This is the problem with living with Spain; he would always butt into my personal life! Even though he pays the bills, gives me free food, and doesn't charge me rent I just wish he would keep his nose in his own business.
Spain dodged the pillow. "Romano, you smell like… Germany. New cologne?"
"What do you want Le Spain?" Romano curled up his fists at his sides.
"Nothing, I just came to check on you. I though you might need some help with your date with Belgium."
Was it Romano's imagination or did he actually detect sadness in Spain's usually joyful voice? "How did you know about my date?"
"Belgium called telling me about it."
"I don't need your help!"
"Listen Roma, just be careful out there. Watch your language I don't want you to hurt any hearts." Spain said with a trembling voice. He quickly ran out leaving Romano standing there surprised.
Deep breath, Romano. Just knock on the door. Romano raised his fist to the green door. He took a deep breath just when the door opened. Smoke and the smell of pot filled his lungs, making him wish he didn't take such a deep breath. Netherlands towered above Romano in the doorway with his pipe in his mouth. He casually leaned his right side on the door frame, still looking down at Romano. His icy glare at Romano intimidated him, so he took a step back. Netherlands let out a puff of smoke. A cute rabbit poked out behind his left leg.
He took his pipe out of his mouth before speaking, "I assume you're the boy taking my little sister out tonight." Netherlands said, never letting his eyes leave Romano.
"Y-yes." Romano gulped.
"Come in." The words were spoken icy with a pinch of a "whatever" attitude. Netherlands turned and walked into the house and Romano followed. He popped his pipe back in his mouth.
Netherlands sat down on a brown couch and picked up his rabbit. He petted it while smoking.
Belgium came down the steps wearing a light rose colored dress. Her white heels made little thumps on the wooden stairs. A flower clip replaced her usual green ribbon. Netherlands caught Romano staring and Romano quickly turned his head to look at something else.
"Hello, Romano." Belgium hugged him.
Netherlands was staring intently at Romano; he looked at him as if Romano was a character on television waiting for him to make a move.
Romano patted her back. "We should go now."
"Okay, bye big brother." Belgium waved good bye to Netherlands but he was too focused on Romano to wave back.
Belgium walked out the door. Romano turned and started to head out when a hand gripped his wrist. He turned around and saw Netherlands standing over him condescendingly.
"Listen, you treat Belgium well tonight. You hurt her I hurt you, understand?"
"Y-yes s-sir!" Romano sputtered.
Netherlands stared him down a few seconds longer before he let go of Romano. As soon as Romano was free of Netherlands grasp he bolted out the door.
Belgium was waiting for him outside the white wooden gate. "What happened?"
"Oh, you know, your brother just stopped me for some… chatting?"
Belgium and Romano walked down the sidewalk together. She knew that Netherlands probably didn't have a friendly chat with her date. "Netherlands, he's really sweet once you get to know him." Belgium looked at the ground.
It was almost impossible to picture Netherlands as sweet and Romano really didn't want to spend more time with him to find out if he was indeed sweet after how he stared him down. Instead of arguing Romano decided to agree, "Yes, I bet he is."
When they got to the restaurant Romano ran in front of Belgium and opened the door for her.
"Dank u." Belgium smiled up at Romano, and stepped in.
After Belgium stepped in Romano went in after her.
Colorful glass lamps hung low over the marble tables, couples and families were all seated and chatting, the smell of steaming delicious meals lingered around the restaurant, and waiters glided around the tables delivering food. Romano led Belgium to a table and pulled out her chair for her.
Belgium laughed, "Then what happened?"
"Then I threw tomatoes at everyone at the meeting thinking it would stop everyone except it just made everything worse! The next thing I know England, France, China, Russia, and my brother all join in throwing scones, croissants, dumplings, vodka, and pasta. IT TURNED INTO A WHOLE FOOD FIGHT! Then that tea loving Britain declared war on me for ruining his best dress shirt." Romano laughed while he told the story to Belgium.
"I can't believe I missed it!" Belgium laughed. "If I known what was going to happen I would've came and brought waffles!"
"I wish you did come." Romano blushed after he realized what he said.
Belgium smiled.
The waiter interrupted them, saving Romano from saying anything even more embarrassing. He set a bowl of pasta down in front of Romano (extra tomato sauce on it), and a plate of chicken with mashed potatoes for Belgium. They just sat in silence for a while as they ate their food. Romano slurped the rest of the pasta down and then stared out the window behind Belgium. He searched his brain for conversation topics while Belgium ate her mashed potatoes. He really hated Germans with their fancy mashed potatoes. Belgium is a little German but he could never hate her.
"So, how was your food?" Romano asked after Belgium finished the last bite of her mashed potatoes.
"Zeer goed, hoe was de jouwe?" Belgium responded.
Romano barely knew any Dutch. "I'm sorry but, I don't know what you just said."
"Oh sorry. I said: very good, how was yours?"
"Oh! Well it's was a little dry, the chef didn't cook it enough causing it to be too hard, the sauce lacked flavor, and cheese was lumpy but aside from that it wasn't the worst bowl of pasta I ever tasted."
"Wow! You're really great at detecting things from food. Ever think of being a food connoisseur?"
"Geez, I never really thought about it." Romano really didn't have any goals except he knew that he wanted to be with Belgium, elimanate Germans, and find the ripest juiciest tomato; but he couldn't say that! He would sound like a loser. "I'll tell you this, though, I'm thinking about it now!" Romano joked.
Belgium laughed, "I'm serious, I think you would really like it. You get free food and if it's no good you get to bash it with criticism."
"That. Is. The. Greatest job I have ever heard! Gratzi, Belgium." Romano smiled at her.
"Oh, I didn't do much." Belgium waved her hand at him, dismissing the gratitude.
"I wasn't talking about the connoisseur thing." Romano said.
"Then?" Belgium asked confused.
"You came on this date. I'm happy that you did." Romano was surprised to see how easy the words glidded off his tongue and he didn't feel his body temperature rise. I guess that after being with Belgium for so long has made me more comfortable around her.
This time it was Belgium whose face turned rosy. She titled her head and smiled at Romano. "I have to admit it was a little out of the blue how you asked me out, but I'm glad that you picked me to come with you."
"I would only ask you to come with me."
Neither of them knew who started it but they slowly leaned in. Their eyes fluttered closed.
Their lips were just inches away from each other when someone interupted them, "Your dessert madame and monsiuer." The waiter put their plates down in front of them.
They both blushed and sat back in their seat.
"Gratzi." Romano said.
"Anything else?" the waiter asked the couple.
"No, I think I'm fine. Belgium, how about you?" Romano turned to face Belgium.
"Yes I am too."
The waiter nodded at them before leaving.
Belgium and Romano ate their dessert (pizza for Romano, chocolate icecream for Belgium) in quiet. The air between them was stiff with awkwardness.
Finally, Belgium spoke up, "If you don't mind, but I'd like us to go somewhere."
Romano looked up from his dessert, "Oh? Where?"
Belgium shook her head while smiling, "It's a surprise."
"I like surprises but I hate the waiting." Romano frowned.
"Why wait? Let's go!" Belgium stood up from her chair and grabbed Romano's wristed and pulled him up from his chair. Romano dug into his pocket for the money Spain gave him for the date and dumped it onto the table before Belgium could drag him out the door.
"It's a park." Romano stated. He sat on the swing next to Belgium's.
Belgium took off her shoes and flung them onto the grass. "Not just any park. I grew up here. Netherlands used to always take me here when I was little. I remember how he would push me on this swing, chase me around the grass, catch me when i came down the slide, and after we would go home and I would bake a nice yummy treat for us." Belgium stared at the stars aove the dark blue night sky, lost in the memories. "Do you ever wish you could go back to your childhood?" Belgium asked, still looking up at the stars.
"Yes. I would have loved to have changed that Spain raised me."
"Spain's not that bad. He cares about you a lot." Belgium sighed, "I miss the simplicity of life. I miss seeing the world as a magical place where nothing could go wrong, the blissful ignorance."
"There are a lot of things good about being an adult." Romano said. He didn't want Belgium feeling sad over her lost childhood.
"Yes... I guess there is." Belgium turned and had an odd smile on her face directed at Romano."
Romano started swinging gently. Belgium joined him and soon it turned into a race to see how could go the highest.
"Timeout!" Romano called out. "I'm getting a headache!"
"There are no timeouts! You stop swinging, you forfeit." Belgium laughed.
"You don't want an injured swinger do you?"
"Fine." Belgium dangled her feet to the ground causing her to slow down to a stop. Romano did the same.
"Thank you." Romano clunched his head in his hands.
"Here, let's lie down in the grass." Belgium helped Romano to lie down into the grass, then she lied down next to him.
After Romano's headache cleared up, they spent the next few minutes looking up at the stars and pointing out constilations. Well, Begium did most of them because Romano knew only the big and little dippers.
"How do you know so much about stars?" Romano asked Belgium.
"I would use it for an escape from reality when I needed it, and when baking wasn't an option. I look up into the sky I see a world of chances and possibilities."
Wow, I just saw white dots in the sky before, but now Belgium makes them look beautiful. Romano stared at Belgium. "Belgii?"
Belgium turned her head to look at Romano. "Ja?"
If the stars represent chances then I can take a chance. Romano closed his eyes, leaned in, and kissed Belgium.
Belgium's eyes were wide but slowly they morphed closed. She leaned into the kiss.
They just kept like that until Belgium's phone beeped. They pulled appart.
"Sorry" Belgium said and she reached in and checked her phone. She quickly closed it. "It's big brother. He wants me home now."
"I'll walk you back." Romano said.
They walked out of the park together down the sidewalk. Romano was nervous if he did the right thing or not since Belgium showed no indication if she felt the same way back. He started thinking that it wasn't that great of an idea that he kissed Belgium.
When they got to the gate of Belgium and Netherlands's house Belgium turned around to Romano.
Romano stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do.
Belgium touched his hand and stood on her tippy toes to kiss Romano. When she parted she said goodbye to Romano.
"W-want to go out another time?" Romano called out to her.
Belgium had her hand on the doorhandle. She turned around and smiled at him. "There is nothing I would like more."
THERE WE GO! IT'S DONE! SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG! MY BRAIN WAS LIKE BRAINDEAD, I HAD A PROJECT TO DO, I NEVER KNEW WHAT TO WRITE, AND I HAVE TESTING :(. BUT HERE IT IS! LOL SO GLAD I'M DONE. THIS STORY WAS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
